Man is a sinner utterly unfit for heaven, but it is immense comfort that grace and truth have come together. God’s two essential names are Love and Light. If we had not love with light, it would have condemned us, but we have perfect light in presence of perfect love. Our comfort is that light does come and reveal everything. Being in God’s very nature, we cannot separate the two things, light and love. Light penetrates, but there is an attractive power along with it. There is never real working in man’s soul without attractive power. The Christian stands “accepted in the beloved,” but the light of God comes in on all his ways. Take the prodigal: The light shines in and shows that he is a lost sinner, but there is attractive power too. “I will arise and go to my father.” Take Peter, falling at Jesus” knees, and saying at the same time, "Depart from me." Wherever the blessed God reveals Himself to our souls, nothing is left in the dark. If you have an idea of God’s love without the conscience being reached, it may pass away as the morning dew. It is a blessed thing that we are brought to God and that everything is fully out in the light. The blessed Lord bore our sin; there was full light and full love at the cross.
J. N. Darby (adapted)